THE Cornish firm looking to convert Okehampton?s market hall into a modern multi-screen cinema say they are still ?excited and enthusiastic? about the project, despite a delay in tying up details of the ambitious scheme. Merlin Cinemas say they hope to be in a position to begin work on securing building regulations approval and certain planning aspects for the scheme after the end of this month. Geoff Greaves, director of Merlin Cinemas said: ?We are still very excited about converting the market hall.? But he said the firm was only a small one, and could not move onto the Okehampton project until it had completed work on another cinema project, which was currently behind schedule. Departing mayor of Okehampton Tony Leech has worked hard for much of his two years in office to resurrect a cinema in the town, following the closure of the fondly-remembered Carlton Cinema in 2003. Although Cllr Leech was disappointed the project was not further forward as he handed on the chains of office this week, he was still positive about the scheme. He said: ?We need Okehampton to grow and prosper. The more we have in Okehampton to draw people in and keep them here the better. A modern cinema would be good for the town.? Okehampton Town Council met Merlin Cinemas last week, when the company said due to delays in a cinema restoration project in Ilfracombe, which was around two months behind schedule, they would not be able to progress the market hall project until that current work was completed at the end of the month. Cllr Leech said: ?I was happy with the outcome. They don?t want the delays any more than we do, but these things can happen when you carry out building work. Quite rightly they want to do one job at a time. ?Ilfracombe is a really big project, ours will be a minnow in comparison, because up there, they have basically had to completely rebuild the building.? Merlin Cinemas had l Continued on page 4
